The deputies went to the Stoneybrook community in east Orange County after a woman called 911 about 10:15 p.m. to report an emergency at 2716 Windsorgate Lane, the Sheriff's Office said.

"They entered the house and at some point were confronted by a gunman," Solomons said. The gunmen, one of them dressed in black, opened fire and then ran out the back of the house and into woods, where officers focused their search early today.

As the shots rang out, the wounded deputy radioed for help.

"Signal 43! Deputy down! I've been shot in the back," one of them shouted.

His name was not immediately released. He arrived by ambulance at Orlando Regional Medical Center shortly after 11 p.m., looking alert and sitting upright on a gurney. He was expected to be released today after treatment. The other deputy was identified as Alex Roman, 32.

A man in the house had been pistol-whipped by a gunman. He was taken to ORMC. The woman who called 911 was unhurt. Their names were not released Tuesday night.

Solomons said the man in black may have impersonated a police officer to gain entrance to the house. The description of his clothes included gold lettering that appeared to read "P.D," as in "police department."

State troopers joined deputy sheriffs and police officers from as far away as Oakland and Winter Springs in closing off the area and assisting the search. Two helicopters -- one from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office -- scanned the gated community from the air. Apopka police brought a dog to track the gunmen.

Residents arriving at Stoneybrook off Alafaya Trail, south of the East-West Expressway, found roadblocks that kept them from returning home.

Officers at the scene said the deputies were lucky to have escaped with their lives. Tuesday's victim became the second Orange County deputy shot while on duty this year. In July, Deputy Scott Winters was wounded by a fleeing murder suspect in the Meadow Woods subdivision.

Two Orlando police officers were shot in February when a gunman opened fire during a traffic stop on John Young Parkway. That incident left Officer George DeSalvia dead and Officer Eddie Diaz partly paralyzed. The suspect in that case is awaiting trial on murder and attempted murder charges.